JEDDAH: Jeddah Municipality revealed on Monday that five dilapidated buildings have been razed in the city's historic Balad area. It also issued warnings to owners of 75 unmanaged sites in the district.
The municipality's move to rein in violators including small businesses operating in the area came last month.
The operations were carried out following directives of Jeddah Mayor Hani Aburas. He called for intensifying inspection tours in Balad and focusing on food shops. "During the last month's inspection, the department inspected 698 buildings; it fined 159 shops for violations and closed down 39 stores and shops," said Khalid Al Amaari, who works in the department that carries out inspections.
Al Amaari said his department also closed down 31 food shops for violating city zoning and sanitary codes.
"Last month, 1847 new trash containers were installed in the area, while street sweeping and periodic pesticides spraying are still being done to prevent crow and rat infestations in Balad," said Al Amaari.
However, despite these measures, sanitary problems persist.
"There are major issues regarding sanitation in Balad, particularly with food leftovers and trash thrown in the streets and inside the alleys. Another problem is dumped old furniture, which enables rats' population to grow. It might cause an outbreak of deadly diseases in the area," said Salim Hussain, a store clerk in the area.
"Municipality inspectors must intensify their work in this area to help combat pests. They should also help us make this area an attractive destination for tourists," Balad resident Saad, 26, told Arab News.
Abu Fahd district residents said that it was not only Balad that suffers from pests. "I live with my family in northern Jeddah, and we have spotted on several occasions rats roaming at night around the trash container near our house. There has to be a permanent solution for this before it becomes endemic," said Abu Fahd, father of four.
© Arab News 2011
